Testing Fasting Numbers

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Namastayathomemom wrote:

Out of curiosity (because I have had my doctors tell me several strange things that seem to contradict what I've been told by others, or seen on here), how is everyone testing their fasting numbers? I used to sleep about 8 hours a night, and never was the jump out of bed for breakfast type. But being pregnant I have been much better rested sleeping about 9 hours. I was told by my doctor to eat my bedtime snack a half an hour before bed, and then fast only 7-8 hours, then check my level. So with the half hour before bed it ends up being a 7-7 1/2 hour night of sleep for me. When I wake up I immediately test and my numbers are in the 95-100 range. I fell back asleep by accident one time instead of jumping up for the breakfast they told me to eat within an hour of waking, and tested out of curiosity- my number was 89! Only an hour after I usually would've tested.. Like I said, my doctors have been what seems like unusually strict with me when my numbers are borderline to begin with, so I'm curious if anyone else is being as on the dot with their testing! Thank you all! I dont know where I'd be without this board- you all make it seem so manageable while my doctor makes it sound like a death sentence! Lol!

I don't know if it's important or not, but since adjusting my diet I've never had a meal number higher than 130 either! And I also test that religiously at an hour after my first bite! In case that helps clarify why I'm so confused lol!

I test whenever I wake up. I don't make sure it is exactly 8 hours. It has to be at least 6 to be considered fasting. I also eat my snack whenever I get hungry. Sometimes that's within a half hour if bed sometimes longer.

So crazy how much of this all is guess work! My dr has me go 8-9 hours between my last bite of food and my first test in the am..my numbers were anywhere between 90-105 so i was out on insulin and am now usually between 80-90

Seems like it really is guesswork! It's just crazy to me that I have to be on such a set schedule. I usually wake up at 7am-7:30ish so in order to make what they want work, that means I need to eat at 11:30 at night and be asleep around midnight. Honestly that is not enough sleep for me!! I feel like they're going to suggest insulin, so I just wanted to know if I'm doing it right!! Having a whole team of doctors is also super annoying- they all say different things.

I was told to eat my snack immediately before bed. Like eat and then get into bed, don't do anything between when you stopped eating and going to bed.

Also, I was waking up about an hour before my alarm, and staying in bed, trying to keep sleeping, and then testing when I got up. Since I was having issues with my fasting numbers, I was told to test within 5-10 minutes of waking up, not getting up. I was told that extra hour can be a difference of 8-10 points. I have started doing this, and I have seen a difference, but it has only been a few days, so we'll see if it lasts.

I think that taking it straight after you wake up and then getting something to eat is the right way but I would think if you are getting your self up early just to test you might be higher just because your sleep deprived...

Oh yeah, I was told not to get myself up early to test, but if I wake up and cannot fall back asleep, then I should test, because that hour of trying to fall back asleep is "stressful". I am resting during that time, so I'm not sure how that would be considered stressful, but simply doing this has brought my numbers down from the low 100s to about 89 or 90

I asked my nutritionist to clarify today, and she said it is stressful and could be raising my numbers! Because I am forcing myself to stay awake, eat and then wake up earlier than I would naturally to test. Then I mentioned to my perinatologist at my appointment later on in the day that I thought that was why my numbers might be high and she said during pregnancy I should be testing 7-8 hours and I do need to! Ugh more confused than ever. But I'm glad I'm not the only one seeing sporadic results due to the confusion. They're putting me on metformin based solely on the fasting numbers, and I'm disappointed because I feel like I haven't even been given a chance to fix things! Thank you all for your input!!! It is much appreciated.

They gave me a week to see if I can fix my numbers, or they're going to start me on meds. I was terrified at first, but I think now that it might actually be for the best. I mean now I know there is really nothing I can do. I changed my bedtime snack, and I test right when I wake up. My numbers have mostly been 89, but I got a 93 and 94 this week too. It's stressful to see my numbers struggle so much, no matter what I do.

My dr tells me not to even count hours. Eat my snack when I'm hungry for it go to sleep and test when I wake up. I find that I do better on a longer fast, 9-10 hours, he's fine with it. I'm almost 39 weeks, been doing it this way since 30 weeks, have had very few high numbers, baby is perfectly healthy and measuring fine. Diet controlled.

I asked at my last appointment about this, and my nurse referred to doctors doing strange things, "Back East," as we live in MN, and that they make things overcomplicated. Curious if you really are in the East somewhere. :) Mine said not to worry about timing things, which is actually the way it is done when we do the initial tests. They never get an exact time when we stop eating and correlate it to when we have the first blood draw, and they call it good enough to officially diagnose women with GD.

My nurse said to just take it whenever I get up. I have a 2 year who still wakes sometimes, so occasionally I am up from 5:30 on and I was initially waiting till right before I eat around 7. I am also curious as I wake to pee a ton, but I guess that doesn't count since everything internally doesn't begin to wake.

I'm from the east and I was not given any of these guidelines. My dr was pretty calm about everything and he allowed some high 90's for fasting without batting an eye. I remained diet controlled and he just monitored it weekly. Never even asked about how long for my fasting times, just checked my numbers.

Ugh doctors are so crazy all over the place when it comes to GD. What a freakin drag! I was told between 8-10 hours for fasting. Your number at 89 sounds good if thats what your getting around 8-9 hours.

Girl that is nuts! I'm from So Cal too. Orange County. My doctor wants my fasting numbers under 90. I also mentioned to her that I sleep like 8-10 hrs a night. She said that's good just have your bedtime snack and whenever you wake Go ahead and test. No need to stress yourself out especially limiting your sleep!!!!!! That's crazy talk and makes no sense. You need your sleep more than ever to allow your body to recover and thrive in pregnancy.